New Build Homes Construction Standards 2024-09-02
2024-09-02
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Building Safety Act requires building safety and standards to be reviewed regularly. Concerns about poor-quality construction have been raised, affecting residents' dreams of home ownership.
Residents in both Hethersett and Loddon have fallen victim to new homes being built to poor standards, shattering their dreams of home ownership from day one. Does my hon. Friend agree that on our ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes, they must be 1.5 million decently built new homes?
As my hon. Friend says, this Government are committed to delivering 1.5 million quality homes over this Parliament to ensure that people have access to high-quality housing. New build homebuyers must feel confident that their new home is safe, and this Government are committed to improving redress for homebuyers when things go wrong.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not explicitly commit to ensuring all 1.5 million homes will be built to high standards; it merely stated commitment to quality without specifics on how this will be ensured.
Committed
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Recent fires in east London have highlighted the issue of unsafe high-rise buildings. Many residents are still waiting for their buildings to be made safe.
The hon. Lady will be well aware of the recent fires in east London and the fact that many high-rise buildings in this country are still not deemed safe because developers are refusing to do what they should. What action will she take to force developers to make buildings safe for residents?
I know the hon. Gentleman did a great deal of work on this agenda in the last Parliament. This week, more than seven years after the Grenfell tragedy, the community will receive the public inquiry's final report, and I hope its findings will help to provide the truth that the bereaved and survivors deserve.
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Assessment & feedback
The question asked about specific actions against developers but was answered with general statements on the Grenfell tragedy.
Changed Subject
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Residents in leasehold properties face problems due to lack of skilled workers in the construction industry, delaying remediation efforts.
Hundreds of my constituents live in leasehold properties with problems. I should declare for the register that I live in a leasehold property, although my developer funded the full cost of cladding removal. There is still a very long wait for those who are not yet in the queue, and one brake on delivery is the lack of skilled people in the construction industry. What work is my hon. Friend doing with other Departments to make sure that we develop the skills we need?
This is a very important area and we are absolutely committed to increasing the skills and competence within the sector. The Department and the Building Safety Regulator will support industry as they identify skills and capacity gaps, provide relevant training and set up accredited competence schemes.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer provided broad commitments but did not specify concrete actions or timelines for developing necessary skills.
Committed
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government have ambitious house-building plans amidst energy and climate crises. There is a need to ensure all new houses are equipped with solar panels for power generation.
Given the Government's ambitious house building plans, the energy crisis and the climate crisis, will the Minister bring forward legislation in the forthcoming planning and infrastructure Bill to ensure all new houses have solar panels on their roofs as standard, so they can generate their own power, and net zero building standards are brought forward as soon as possible?
The Government have set out very ambitious plans on home building and on green issues. The future home building programme will address those issues; we look forward to working with colleagues on the issue.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer provided no specific commitments or actions regarding solar panels or net zero standards for new homes.
Committed
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
There is a need to bring accessibility standards up to M4(2) level immediately, as recommended by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee.
The last Government consulted at very great length about bringing accessibility standards for all new homes up to M4(2) level. The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee recommended that be done immediately, but the response we got was that more consultation was needed. Will the Minister assure us that the issue will now be dealt with as a matter of urgency?
Today, in our written ministerial statement, we have set out a number of proposals. The points my hon. Friend makes about accessibility are extremely important. We will do further work, building on the statement published today.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not provide an urgent commitment; it promised to look into the issue but without a specific timeline or action plan.
Working With
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
Residents want local councils to have the power to demand high-quality and supportive living conditions from developers.
People in North Norfolk desperately want new homes for local people to be built. They know those homes need to be good-quality and support active lifestyles, but currently local councils lack the tougher powers they need to make those demands. Will the Minister tell me what she plans to do to give planners, such as those at North Norfolk district council, greater powers to demand more from developers?
The national planning framework will set out further how we intend to provide key support to local authorities and to work closely with local authorities to ensure the issue is addressed.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer provided information on future processes but did not give specific powers or actions for councils.
Working With
Response accuracy